S. Hal Kartchner

A valiant servant of our Heavenly Father, Silas Hal Kartchner, passed from this life to an eternal one on the evening of June 18, 2018 at the age of 95.  He was born August 5, 1922 in Blanding, Utah to Silas Decatur and Elizabeth Hurst Kartchner.  Hal spent his young years in Blanding with his two siblings near a large extended family. He was proud of his San Juan heritage.  His family moved to Salt Lake when he was a teenager. He graduated from Granite High School. Through a lifelong friend he was introduced to Venita Ann Jensen who happened to share the same birthday one year apart.  They were married on May 16, 1942 and have been devoted to each other for 76 years.
Hal served in the Army during World War II. In the forested area of the Ardennes during the Battle of the Bulge, he had the difficult responsibility as a supply sergeant to make sure each soldier received a hot meal and a dry pair of socks each day. He felt blessed to be one that was able to come home when many of his buddies did not.  Although he didn’t talk about the war until his later years he was very proud of his rank as a First Sergeant and honored to be a World War II veteran.
Hal and Venita lived in Holladay for many years where they raised their three children. She fell in love with a house in South Jordan and told Hal “if he loved her he’d buy her that house” – and he did!  He loved to garden, watch his horses in his corral, putter in the yard and bring Nita a fresh cut rose or peony every morning from his flower garden. He worked tirelessly in his yard until the age of 93 when a fall resulted in a move to Assisted Living at Sagewood in Daybreak.  He retired from the Forest Service where he worked in the sign shop and the soil and materials testing lab. They moved to South Jordan where he enjoyed watching his horses from his own back door. They were blessed with many wonderful memories there. He enjoyed gardening, fishing, new trucks and riding horses.   He loved listening to the sounds of the Big Bands and that brought him great joy even in his final days.
Above all Hal loved his family!  He was devoted to Nita and always made her a priority in his life.  He was very proud of his children, grandchildren and a growing posterity.  His smile was brightest when he talked about his family and especially enjoyed the time spent with them just chatting. He showed his love with a tender rub on an earlobe or a pat on a leg. He shared stories and laughter, enjoyed hobbies and hard work and left each of us with personal memories we will treasure.
Hal considered himself to be an ordinary man, but his legacy will live on in the lives of his family and friends in extraordinary ways. He would want to be remembered as a man of faith and commitment to the Gospel, his family, and his Covenants.  He but would want his posterity to believe in the Atonement of Jesus Christ. He knew the Gospel was true and lived it.  He accepted many callings to serve the Lord. He was as committed to being a faithful home teacher as he was to serving in a Bishopric.  He didn’t ever feel he had much to offer compared to those he considered to be spiritual giants, but in all his years of service people loved him for his humility, experience and wisdom.
He is survived by his loving wife, his two sons Terry (Tammie) and Alan (Carol), and his daughter Becky Sohm (Dallan).  He also leaves behind 13 grandchildren and a growing posterity of “greats” to carry on his legacy. He was preceded in death by his parents, his sister Betty Jo Bengtzen, his brother John Kartchner, two grandchildren and a great grandson.
Service Information
Viewing June 25, 2018 at 6:00 - 8:00 PM
South Jordan River 10th Ward, 1570 W. 11400 S., South Jordan, Utah





Viewing June 26, 2018 at 10:45-11:45 AM
South Jordan River 10th Ward, 1570 W. 11400 S., South Jordan, Utah





Funeral Service
June 26, 2018 at 12:00 Noon
South Jordan River 10th Ward, 1570 W. 11400 S., South Jordan, Utah